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Correlation of sexual dysfunction and brain magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis

Department of Clinical Medicine and Neurology, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 447-34149 Trieste, Italy, m.zorzon{at}fmc.units.it

R Zivadinov

Department of Clinical Medicine and Neurology, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 447-34149 Trieste, Italy

L Locatelli

Department of Clinical Medicine and Neurology, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 447-34149 Trieste, Italy

B Stival

Department of Clinical Medicine and Neurology, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 447-34149 Trieste, Italy

D Nasuelli

Department of Clinical Medicine and Neurology, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 447-34149 Trieste, Italy

A Bratina

Department of Clinical Medicine and Neurology, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 447-34149 Trieste, Italy

A Bosco

Department of Clinical Medicine and Neurology, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 447-34149 Trieste, Italy

M A Tommasi

Department of Clinical Medicine and Neurology, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 447-34149 Trieste, Italy

R S Pozzi Mucelli

Department of Clinical, Morphological and Technological Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 447-34149 Trieste, Italy

M Ukmar

Department of Clinical, Morphological and Technological Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 447-34149 Trieste, Italy

G Cazzato

Department of Clinical Medicine and Neurology, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 447-34149 Trieste, Italy

Sixty-two patients (40 women and 22 men) with multiple sclerosis (MS) were examined with 1.5 tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Information on sexual and sphincteric disturbances has been collected, and data on disability, independence, cognitive performances and psychological functioning have been assessed. C alculations of T₁- and T₂-lesion load (LL) of total brain, frontal lobes and pons have been performed using a reproducible semiautomated technique. Whole brain, frontal and pontine atrophies were estimated using a normalized measure, the brain parenchymal fraction (BPF), obtained with a computerized interactive program. When comparing patients with and without sexual dysfunction (SD), there were no differences in total brain, frontal and pontine T₁- and T₂-LL, as well as in measures of whole brain and frontal atrophy. The only significant difference was in the pontine BPF (P-0.026). In linear multiple regression analysis, SD was associated with depression (R-0.56, P-0.001) and, after adjusting for depression and anxiety, with bladder dysfunction (R-0.43, P-0.003) and pontine BPF (R-0.56, P-0.001). No association between SD and any of the measures of T₁- and T₂-LL was found. The findings showed a relationship between SD and pontine atrophy, confirmed the correlation of SD with bladder dysfunction and highlighted the role of psychological factors in determining SD.

Key Words: MRI • multiple sclerosis • sexual dysfunction • sphincteric dysfunction

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 9, No. 1, 108-110 (2003)
DOI: 10.1191/1352458503ms881sr


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